Elastic band power unit for operating a toy



Oct. 27, 1970 KUPPERMAN ETAL 3,535,947

ELASTIC BAND POWER UNIT FOR OPERATING A TOY Filed Jan. 21. 1969 2 She ts -SheQt 1 INVENTORS SAM KUPPERMAN DENNIS I. KUPPERMAN ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1970 s. KUPPERMAN ETAL 3,535,947

ELASTIC BAND POWER UNIT FOR OPERATING A TOY Filed Jan. 21, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS SAM KU PPERMAN DENNIS l. KUPPERMAN ATTORNEY 3,535,947. Patented Oct. 27, 1970 3,535,947 ELASTIC BAND POWER UNIT FOR OPERATING A TOY Sam Kupperman, Chicago, and Dennis I. Kupperman,

Des Plaines, Ill. (both of 4139 Main St., Skokie, Ill.

Filed Jan. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 792,536 Int. Cl. A63I1 17/00; F16h N06 US. Cl. 74-414 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an elastic band power unit for operating a toy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of this invention is to provide a power unit for a toy which power is created by the winding and unwinding of a conventional rubber band in such a manner that the unwinding will be relatively uniform to cause the toy to be propelled for a relatively longer distance and at a uniform rate of travel, as contrasted to the prior art where the unwinding is in a rapid spurt which is immediately dissipated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a power unit having the foregoing characteristics which is inexpensive to produce and which may be embodied in any toy.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the power unit of this invention applied to a toy which moves over a floor or ground surface.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view.

FIG. 4 is a view partly in section taken on line 4-4 of 'FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the power unit shown in FIGS. 1 through 6.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the members of the power unit.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a modified power unit applied to a toy which is propelled in the water.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 1 TO 6 EMBODIMENT One embodiment of the elastic band power unit forming this invention, which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, will now be described.

The toy to which it can be applied may be of any character, such as a toy snowmobile, toy car, toy boat, and the like, and said toy will comprise a housing or body which is generally designated by the numeral 10, having a pair of spaced side wall members 12 which are generally parallel with respect to each other. The housing or body 10 is preferably molded of a plastic material and forms a part of the toy. The structure of the toy body will not be described herein since this invention is applicable to any toy which can utilize the elastic band power unit of this invention.

The spaced side wall members 12 may be connected by a cross-top wall 14. Depending downwardly from the top wall 14 and formed integrally therewith are spaced depending members 16, the lower ends of which are formed to provide circular openings 18 which are open at the bottom as at 20. The surfaces bounded by the circular openings 18 form the bearing surfaces 21 within which the elastic or rubber band housing is journaled.

The first member of the motor power unit is generally designated by the numeral 22 and comprises a half cylindrical-shaped half shell body 24 within which is centrally positioned and integrally formed a pin 26. The opposite ends of the housing 22 are provided with semi-circular shaped ends 28 which extend from the open part of the cylindrical half shell body 24. The semi-circular ends 28 together with the semi-circular end portion of the shell body 24 form the journals which are supported in the circular shaped openings or bearings 21 of the depending members 16 so that the elastic band housing or rubber band tube 22 is rotatably journaled within said openings or bearings of the depending members. It will be noted that the semi-circular ends 28 of the ends of the elastic band housing extend laterally of the supporting bearings 21 so that the elastic band housing is fully supported by the depending members 16.

The elastic band housing or rubber band tube 22 is snapped into the bearing surfaces 21 of the depending members since the open gap of the bearings will give sufliciently to permit this insertion. However, once inserted the elastic band housing will not drop out of the bearing surfaces but will be retained therein and be rotatable therein.

A gear 30 is integrally formed as part of the elastic band housing or rubber band tube and said gear extends laterally of one of the ends 28 of the elastic band housing. The elastic band housing and gear are integrally molded of a plastic material and same may be considered and sometimes hereinafter referred to as a first member of the motor unit. The gear has a central opening 22 which is alined with the axis of the elastic band housing 22. By making the rubber band housing of a half cylindrical shape, as shown, the first member may be integrally molded of plastic, which reduces the cost considerably.

When the journals 28 of the first member of the motor unit are supported in the bearings 21, as best shown in FIG. 2, the gear 30 of the first member is positioned in the space 34 between one of the depending members 16 and the adjacent spaced side wall member 12.

An elastic or rubber band 36 is contained within the semi-circular housing 24 and the center of the elastic band fits around or encompasses the pin 26. The pin restricts the band in the housing or tube and when the rubber band is wound the pin causes the band to wind from the center outward to both opposite ends. The elastic or rubber band 36 is of conventional type which is readily obtainable on the market.

'Integrally formed with the oppositely spaced side wall members 12 of the frame or housing of the toy are outwardly extending ledges 38, each of said ledges having a downwardly extending pin 40. The side walls 12 adjacent the depending members 16 are recessed or open as at 42. The opposite ends of the elastic or rubber band 36 are passed through the opposite open ends of the elastic band housing, including the opening in the gear 30, and are passed through said openings 42 to anchor or engage the oppositely spaced downwardly extending pins 40.

The second member of the motor unit is generally designated by the numeral 44 and as herein shown comprises a cylindrical or drum shaped wheel 46 having spaced peripheral ribs 47. It also includes a central axle 48 which is connected to the drum shaped wheel by spaced connecting spokes 50. The axle extends laterally of the opposite ends of the drum wheel 46. One end of the axle is designated by the numeral 51 and the opposite end by the numeral 52. The end 52 has a knurled extension 53 which is adapted to be engaged. A gear 54 is integrally formed with the cylindrical wheel 46 adjacent one end.

The second member 44 is integrally molded of a plastic material. Said second member is rotatably supported in circular openings 56 provided in the spaced side Walls 12. The circular openings in the side walls are open at the bottom as at 57 and are such that the axle may be snapped into the openings through the bottom opening 57 thereof and when inserted in said generally circular side wall openings will be retained therein. The gear 54 of the second member will be in engagement with the gear 30 of the first member.

As herein shown, the drum shaped wheel 46 is intended to be used in connection with a toy snowmobile. However, it will be understood that in lieu of the drum Wheel 46, wheels may be formed with the axle 48 or secured thereto when it is desiredto use the motor unit of this invention in connection with a toy car or toy truck or the like where wheels are conventionally used. The operation would be the same whether a drum shaped wheel or conventional wheels are used.

It will be understood that the first member 22 of the motor unit is also snapped into the curved bearings of the depending member from the bottom thereof so that the assembly of the two motor unit members in relation to the toy structure is very simple.

In this exemplification the toy is operated so that the second member 44 forms the traction wheel or wheels which engage the surface on which the toy rests and when same is rotated it will propel or move the toy in a forward direction. The operation should be apparent from the foregoing, but briefly described it is as follows.

With the rubber band 36 in unwound condition within the rubber band housing or tube 24, the knurled extension 53 on the second member 44 is manually engaged and rotated to thereby rotate the second member. Through the engagement of the gears 30 and 54 of the first and second members a rotation will be imparted to the first member 22 in a direction opposite to the rotation of the second member. Thus, as the extension 53 and the traction wheel or wheels 46 of the second member are rotated clockwise, as shown in FIG. 2, the first member 22 will be rotated counterclockwise and this will cause the rubber band to Wind up or tighten in the first member. The center pin 26 to which the rubber band is anchored or secured, as previously described, restricts the rubber band in the tube or housing and causes the rubber band to wind from the center outward to both opposite ends as the first member is rotated. After the rubber band has been sufiiciently wound the toy is placed on a surface so that the traction wheel engages the surface and the knurled extension 53 of the axle is manually released. The wound up rubber band will then start to unwind and rotate the first member in a clockwise direction, which will cause the drive member, namely, the second member, to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and propel the toy forwardly until the rubber band has been unwound. With this arrangement the two gears 30 and 54 are constantly in mesh. By virtue of this construction the unwinding of the rubber band takes place in a normal and steady manner throughout its unwinding, thus, there is no sudden acceleration of the toy but rather a steady and even forward movement. If the rubber band should break a new rubber band may be readily substituted therefore and it may be inserted through the first member as the parts are open and readily accessible.

4 FIGS. 7 TO 9 EMBODIMENT In the modification shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the motor unit is utilized in a modified form. As illustrated, the toy to which the invention is applied in a paddle boat, generally designated at 60, which comprises a pair of spaced pontoons 62 connected by a platform 63 extending therebetween at the front thereof. Depending from one of the pontoons is a bearing member 64 which receives and supports a second motor member generally designated by the numeral 66. The second motor member has an axle 67 to the inner end of which is fixedly secured a gear 68. The axle 67 extends outwardly of the pontoons and has a knurled end 69 which is manually engaged for rotating gear 68. The axle 67 is rotatably supported in the bearing member 64. Formed integrally with each of the pontoons are bearing members 70 which extend inwardly of the pontoons.

The first member of the motor unit is generally designated by the numeral 71 and comprises a cylindrical shaped rubber band housing 72 which is rotatably supported in the bearings 70. The housing 72 has a pin 74 corresponding to the pin 26, which pin is exposed by an opening 75 in the housing. Formed integrally with said rubber band housing 72 are a plurality of spaced paddles 76. Molded integrally with the rubber band housing is a gear 78. Depending from each of the pontoons 62 adjacent the bearings 70 are pins 80. The rubber band 82 is inserted in the rubber band housing 72 and extends around the central pin 74. The opposite ends of the rubber band are fastened to the pins on the pontoons.

The toy is wound by rotating the winding stem 69 of the second member manually, which through the gear 68 which meshes with the gear 78 of the first member 71 will cause the first member to rotate and thereby wind up the rubber band in the rubber band housing, similar to that previously described. When the Windup operation is completed the toy is placed in water and the winding stem 69 is released and this will cause the rubber band to unwind and rotate the first member 71 together with the paddles thereon to propel the toy. With the two gears 68 and 78 constantly in mesh and the windup of the rubber band around the pin 74, the unwinding of the rubber band will be controlled to prevent a rapid unwinding of the rubber band. This eliminates the initial and rapid unwinding spurt which is common to other rubber band types of motors. With this arrangement the unwinding takes place at a controlled rate so that the motor unit serves to propel the toy over a greater distance than would otherwise have occurred.

In the modification the construction is very simple and the first and second members forming the motor unit are readily put into position merely by inserting them in their bearings without requiring any special tooling or the like. It lends itself to a very economical method of manufacture since the parts may be molded of plastic. In this construction the rubber band may be replaced when it breaks, similar to that described in the first embodiment.

In lieu of the rubber band housings 22 and 72 shown, a regular tube with a hole drilled in the center for the restriction pins 26 and 74 may be used, however, this would be a more expensive construction than the construction than the construction previously described.

What is clamied is:

1. An elastic band power unit for operating a toy comprising, a first member and a second member rotatably supported on said toy, an elastic band extending through one of said members with the opposite ends of the band secured to the toy, said last mentioned member having means engaged by the band to restrict the band to cause said band to wind as said last mentioned member is rotated for the winding of said band, said first and second members each having a gear in engagement with each other, one of said members having manual engageable means for manually rotating said member to thereby ro- 5 tate the other member and to wind up said elastic band so that when said manual engaging member is released the elastic band will be caused to unwind and rotate the first and second members and thereby operate as a power unit for the toy.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the first member has a housing through which the elastic band extends and in which said housing has a pin which is the means engaged by the elastic band about which the windup of the elastic band takes place.

3. A a structure as defined in claim 2 in which the pin is centrally positioned in said housing and in which the band winds from the center outward to the opposite ends.

4. A structure as defined in claim 2 in which the manual engageable means is connected to the second member.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the first member has a housing through which the elastic band extends, and in which the gear on the first member is positioned adjacent one end of the housing.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5 in which the elastic band extends through the gear on said first member.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the first member includes a housing for the elastic band, which is a conventional rubber band, and in which the pin is positioned centrally of said housing, and in which the band winds from the center outward to the opposite ends, and in which the second member includes a wheel adapted to engage a surface to cause the toy to be propelled over said surface as the elastic band is unwinding.

8. A structure as defined in claim 1 in Which the first member has an elastic band housing and a centrally positioned restriction pin engaged by the elastic band, and in which the band winds from the center outward to the opposite ends, and in which the second member is a wheel adapted to engage a surface whereby as said second member is rotating the toy will be propelled, and in which the second member has the manual engageable means for rotating said second member to thereby rotate the first member to cause the elastic band to wind up.

9. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the first member has paddles for propelling the toy in water.

10. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the elastic band is a conventional rubber band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,660 6/1956 Zimentstark 46-206 3,221,446 12/1965 Keck 46206 3,229,415 1/1966 Bross 4675 LEONARD H. GERIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 46206 

